THIS month has seen a landmark moment for the EU Dryport project, with an official opening ceremony and seminar at the Skaraborg Logistic Center, at Falköping in Sweden.

This facility is the flagship development of the Swedish Dryport partners and has served as an excellent case study for other partners who are planning and developing their own dryport projects.

The Stora Enso/Sydveds timber terminal was opened in the presence of guests from local and regional authorities, road and rail authorities, business and industry. It is the first major establishment at the Skaraborg site, which already has an intermodal terminal in operation. Other significant developments are expected to follow shortly, including a second, larger intermodal terminal. The facility could ultimately cover 70 hectares, and there is more land available for further expansion.

So how does will this site fit into the supply and logistics chain? The answer is closely linked to the ambitions of the Port of Gothenburg, which works with a network of about two dozen inland rail terminals. Stig-Göran Thorén, the port’s senior manager, business development explained:  “Our vision is to double the number of containers handled through the port in the next eight years; we are just below 1m teu at present, and are aiming for 2m. Our railport system is a central part of our strategy for growth. Rather than storing containers in the port, it is much better to move them closer to owners and industry. We need to move cargo inland swiftly, by rail, to make the supply chain more efficient.”

Gothenburg estimates it is saving about 51,000 tonnes of CO2 a year by using this railport system; the port achieves a remarkable 50/50 road/rail modal split for containers.

Falköping Municipality is working closely with the region of Västra Götaland, the lead partner in Dryport, to develop the Skaraborg site.

At present, it is being used for transport and storage of hard and softwood, salt, pellets, building materials and other cargoes. There are plans to launch a container shuttle link to and from the Port of Gothenburg in late summer and this would bring substantial container volumes into the site.

Leif Bigsten, manager for strategic development at Falköping Municipality, said: “After a real dip in interest during the worst of the recession, we are now seeing very positive and increasing interest in Falköping as an intermodal solution. That is partly due to higher diesel prices; but also, companies have had time to think about their supply chains and they need to prepare for the next stage of their own development.”

Another key project making good progress within Dryport is the creation of a unique Carbon Calculator. Being developed by AECOM on behalf of the Haven Gateway and Babergh District Council, joint Dryport partners, this will enable logistics companies to visit website in order to compare and contrast different cargo movement methods and their carbon emissions, as they plan their transport to and from the Haven Ports. We are looking forward to an official launch of our own very soon!